Sylvia De Armas
of the Division for Early Childhood of the Council for Exceptional Children. NAEYC allowed me to broaden my work beyond children with disabilities. It gave me perspectives that enriched my research as well as my teaching. I attended Annual Conferences and one of the first Professional Learning Institutes.
How early childhood education has influenced my current role: What I’ m doing now is rooted in the work I did in educator preparation. What I know about teacher development and adult learning— making it meaningful and enjoyable— is rooted in the principles and positions of NAEYC.
What NAEYC’ s centennial means to me: I think about the pioneers— the people who had the vision for an organization designed to help others and to build up our knowledge base about early childhood. Usually, these things start with a conversation around a table. I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall: What was their vision? Would they be surprised by where we are now? I love history, and I’ m grateful to the pioneers who helped build out this organization and early childhood education.
My hope for NAEYC’ s next 100 years: I hope NAEYC continues to be the advocate for children, families, and educators no matter the place they are coming from. One of the changes I’ ve seen in teacher preparation is that teacher candidates expect to see children of different abilities and backgrounds in their settings. They’ re considering how to work with children and families in a way that is supportive of their backgrounds. These children bring different strengths; how can teachers honor their stories and build a foundation to make them successful?
We’ re in a moment in history right now. I hope NAEYC continues to stand on its principles and mission to really support children and professionals in the field to carry us forward.
Sylvia De Armas
Founder and director Bottega Child Development Center Miami, Florida July 2017 Member Spotlight
“ You have to have a passion for this. It’ s a beautiful career. You impact so many lives.”
Sylvia De Armas was working as an accountant and director of operations in real estate and construction when her sister-in-law began looking at early childhood education programs. It was challenging, and it made Sylvia realize,“ This is a business I’ m interested in.”
Sylvia began taking classes at Miami-Dade Community College, where a mentor recommended getting firsthand experience as a teacher and taking coursework in early childhood education. So Sylvia studied— eventually earning a bachelor’ s degree in early childhood education and a master’ s degree in curriculum and instruction. Along the way, she worked as a teacher at the United Way Center for Excellence.
Sylvia joined NAEYC in 2008 and has served on the boards of both the South Florida Association for the Education of Young Children( as member-atlarge, treasurer, vice president, and president) and the Florida Association for the Education of Young Children( FLAEYC) as member-at-large. In 2013,
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